Athlete Of The Month

Each month we choose a member who has stuck out to us one way or another for our Athlete of the Month (not an easy task with all of the amazing athletes we have). Most importantly we want to recognize those dedicated members for their hard work and accomplishments, and show the local community that anyone can be a CrossFitter. All you have to do is make the choice to give it a try, set goals, work hard and push yourself. You may be surprised at what you will accomplish as a member of CrossFit Formidable! We borrowed some questions from the great book “Tribe Of Mentors” by Timothy Ferriss to get to know our Formidable Tribe away from the gym. Enjoy.

March 2018 Athlete Of The Month

Gabe Martushev

We chose Gabe as Athlete Of The Month for so many reasons. Just a great all around guy. Gabe is super coachable and grateful to receive any and all feedback in his pursuit of health and fitness. He often stays after class working on goals he has developed and is constantly striving to achieve those goals. Gabe is always putting in his best effort each and every day. He is super friendly and welcoming to all Athletes and is easy to get along with. Gabe has been a big asset with his tech background as we have made the gym software transition. Very knowledgeable individual always willing to help others. Once he learns how to pace he will be a force to be reckoned with (Gabe always goes to hot out of the gate). He’ll either learn or be able to maintain that pace eventually. Super grateful to have Gabe and now his wife Penny as part of the CFF Family!

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown has taught me how to focus on what’s important and stop stressing about the rest.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is a great business book about not being afraid to dream big and go to great extremes to make it real, regardless of how much opposition and uncertainty you face.

Inside the Box by T.J. Murphy is a great book about CrossFit, how it works, and why it’s so successful. This book has given me the courage to go all in with CrossFit, to embrace the intense workouts, push the limits of temporary pain, and learn to love the sore muscles. Definitely a recommended read for all CrossFitters. And if you haven’t joined CrossFit yet, this book might just convince you to hurry up and join!

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

We drink lots of water, so I bought Camelbak Podium water bottles for my entire family. They have a self-sealing valve so they don’t spill when tipped over, but are easy to drink from without having to twist or open anything. Great for the bedside and the gym.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?

One of my greatest failures was in having an angry outburst at some perceived offense. But I learned later that the offense was completely unintentional. This has led me to believe that most offenses are unintentional and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. This approach always results in a much more peaceful outcome.

If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it—metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions—what would it say and why? It could be a few words or a paragraph. (If helpful, it can be someone else’s quote: Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?)

“Your story is not why you’re stuck, it’s just that you believe your story.” -Tony Robbins

What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made? (Could be an investment of money, time, energy, etc.)

One of the best recent investments is joining CrossFit Formidable. I’ve tried other gyms and recreational types of fitness activities, but nothing quiet does it like CrossFit. It’s the tough-love, persistence-pays-off, no-bullshit, no-frills approach that has made it so appealing. It’s about knowing that nothing worth doing comes fast or easy, and that good form is of utmost importance. The coaches here at CrossFit Formidable embody these values and drill them into us during every training session. I look forward to working out every day!

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

I love to take naps in the middle of the day. It rejuvenates me, resets my busy mind, and I often wake up with solutions to difficult problems already all figured out.

In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?

I’ve nearly completely stopped listening to news, removed social media from my life, and don’t watch much TV. I enjoy quiet time and prolonged moments of boredom during which I get sparks of inspiration and a drive to do something healthy or productive.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore?

Most of life’s greatest lessons are learned outside of the classroom. If you’re really interested in pursuing a career, make it more than just a class you go to. Make a hobby of it, experiment on your own time. Don’t be afraid to reach out to experts in the field, volunteer your time. Get a crappy job in a related business just to get some exposure, the lessons learned there will be priceless.